Blackberry Thumbprints

The Washington Post, December 7, 2011

Holiday cookies

Fresh thyme and lemon zest complement the blackberry fruit.

To create the peekaboo hole that lets the jam show through, use a linzer cookie cutter or a 1-inch round cookie cutter (for half of the cookies).

MAKE AHEAD: The dough needs to be refrigerated (the first time) for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. It can be frozen for up to 1 month. The cookies can be stored in an airtight tin at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. You'll have leftover lemon-thyme sugar, which can be kept at room temperature for several weeks.

Makes twenty to twenty-four 2-inch cookie sandwiches

Ingredients:

For the cookies

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup seedless blackberry jam

For the lemon-thyme sugar

• Finely grated zest from 1 lemon (2 teaspoons)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Several leaves of fresh thyme, finely chopped

Directions:

For the cookies: Combine the butter, sugar, egg, cream and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Beat on low speed, then on medium speed until well incorporated. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the salt, baking powder and flour; beat on low speed until just combined, forming a soft dough. Gather it into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
Unwrap the dough and place it between two large pieces of parchment paper. Roll out evenly to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Refrigerate (in the paper) for 10 to 15 minutes, until firm.
Line a few baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
Remove the top piece of parchment paper from the dough; place the dough (with paper on the bottom) on the counter. Use a 2-inch round cookie cutter to cut out as many rounds as you can, placing them on a lined baking sheet and refrigerating them for 10 to 15 minutes. If the dough seems too soft as you are working, return it to the refrigerator until it has chilled again.
Rewrap scraps of dough and return them to the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat to cut out a total of 40 to 48 rounds of dough, making sure they are all chilled a second time. Use a linzer cookie cutter or a 1-inch round cookie cutter to create center holes in half of the rounds of cookie dough. Refrigerate the rounds with holes for 20 minutes; save scraps for another use, if desired.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Fill a small piping bag (or a quart-size resealable plastic food storage bag with the tip of one of its bottom corners snipped off) with the jam. Squeeze about 1/2 teaspoon of the jam onto the center of each bottom round of dough. Top with the second rounds that have a hole in them, pressing gently to create a sandwich. Rearrange on the baking sheets as needed, spacing the cookies 1 inch apart. Bake one sheet at a time for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are barely golden brown.
While the cookies are in the oven, make the lemon-thyme sugar: Whisk together the zest, sugar and thyme leaves (to taste) in a medium bowl.
When the cookies are done, transfer the baking sheet to the stove top (off the heat). Immediately sprinkle some of the lemon-thyme sugar on the tops of the cookies, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing. Repeat to use all of the dough.

Simply Sweets

I'm so excited to say that Simply Sweets is almost a reality! After years of working toward this goal; perfecting a menu, pricing, website design, advertising, finding suppliers, designing stationary, acquiring business materials, permits and finding a location, (not to mention waiting for kids to graduate) I am super happy to say that January 2012 will be a banner year for Simply Sweets! Everyone who has dreamed of, owned or managed a small business realizes just what an undertaking this endeavor has been.

I will primarily be mail order via my website:http://www.wix.com/simplysweetsbyjuliea/simply-sweets as well as Face book. I offer opportunities for retail placement as well as corporate catering. My menu is expansive and features fresh local produce to continue the farm to table movement. I use only the highest quality chocolate, butter and sugars to ensure a rich decadent dessert. Every item is made fresh to order so every bite is guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest of connoisseur's. I will expand outside of the US market after the holidays, but for now I am happy to offer shipping within the US borders.

So come join me as I celebrate the opening of Simply Sweets! Discriminating Desserts for Discriminating People! Swing by Face book, the website or shoot me email/text and I would love to put together a tasting menu for your event. I want to thank everyone who stood by me all these years and taste tested my recipes, gave critiques on design and encouraged me; God bless you! ~ Julie Ann

Wishing you & yours a happy baking season!

17 signs that frugality has gone too far

There is such a thing as being too frugal. How to figure out if you've crossed the line.

By MSN Money partner on Thu, Mar 3, 2011 9:45 AM

This guest post comes from Kathryn Vercillo at Financial Highway.

Frugal living is a smart choice. However, like all things, frugality can be taken to the extreme. The following 17 signs may be a sign that you will want to reassess your reasons for being frugal.

1. You spend many, many hours a week on frugality. Whether it's clipping coupons or reworking your household budget, frugality takes time. If you're spending more time on being frugal than enjoying your family, you may want to re-evaluate the situation. Remember that your time is worth money. If you feel too busy and don't have time to do the things that you want to do in life, you may be spending too much time on living frugally.
2. You go without things that you need. Frugal living isn't meant to make your life uncomfortable. If you don't have what you need, you've gone beyond just being frugal.
3. You feel isolated. When frugal choices prevent you from living a social, active life, something has gone wrong. Learn more about frugality and isolation.
4. You hoard items just because you get a good deal on them. This isn't being frugal. It's not a good deal if you buy something that you don't need and won't use. Nobody needs 500 toothbrushes, even if they do cost only a penny each.
5. You can't let things go because you might need them someday. This is another example of how frugality can be related to hoarding. You think that you're being frugal by saving money on some future item that you may or may not need, but what you're really doing is cluttering up your life today.
6. You hate being frugal but feel like you have to. If you resent the activities that you're engaging in to be frugal, you're not living a high quality of life. Consider making other frugal choices that you do enjoy. There are many different ways to be frugal; it should be something that you enjoy doing.
7. You compromise your safety. Choosing to eat expired foods without knowing if they're safe because you don't want the money to be wasted is an example of dangerous frugality.
8. You are in competition with others about how frugal you can be. Although it's nice to compare notes and tips on frugality, you shouldn't feel like you have to one-up the people that you know by saving more than they do. Frugal living can be community-minded and based on sharing. (Check out the concept of collaborative consumption.)
9. You never treat yourself to something indulgent. It's important to spoil ourselves now and then. You shouldn't constantly go without because you want to be frugal. Of course, your indulgences should be few and far between and worked into a smart budget, but they should definitely still be a part of your life.
10. People frequently tell you that you're being stingy. Others sometimes have a better grasp than we do on when our good habits have gotten out of control and have become bad habits.
11. You compromise your values and ethics just to save a buck. Is that really how you want to live?
12. You ask people for more than you give them. For example, you host a potluck party but don't contribute a dish of your own, or you invite someone on a date and expect them to pay.
13. Your home lacks really basic items. For example, you don't have a bed because you sold it and sleep on the floor to save money. If your home doesn't have the basic things that most homes have, you've gone too far with being frugal. If you no longer have a home, things are really out of control.
14. It stresses you out to spend money. If even making normal payments causes you stress, you may have a problem.
15. You'd rather save money than earn money. An income is crucial if you're going to have financial stability. If you're spending valuable time saving money when you could be using that time to earn money, things may be out of control.
16. Money is all that you talk about. If you can't have conversations about other interests in life, it's possible that frugality has become an obsession instead of just a tool to improve your life.
17. You don't think there's such a thing as being "too frugal." Clearly, you no longer know where the line is and that means you've probably crossed it.

If you notice these signs in your own life, stop and ask yourself whether or not your frugal choices are allowing you to live the life that you truly want to lead. There are many different options for living frugally, and you should choose the ones that enhance your life rather than take away from it.

Autumn Harvest

Autumn is here, and so is our appetite for the season's ample variety of apples. From Idared to Golden Delicious to Northern Spy, these fresh-picked fall fruits are good to the core.
But, as they say, one bad apple spoils the bunch - so make sure you grapple the very best apples.

1. When is the best time to buy apples?
"Here in the Northeast, the time is right now! The apple harvest season starts in August and lasts through November. Granny Smith and McIntosh apples are especially seasonal for this time.
These days you can buy apples all year round from different suppliers around the world, but August through November, you’ll have incredibly crisp and juicy apples."
2. How do I pick a great apple?
"A ripe apple should be crunchy and sweet. The best way to test if an apple is ripe is to squeeze it. The flesh should feel firm, without any soft or brown spots.
Gala apples should be a sweet, snappy, aromatic apple that is usually red-and-yellow-striped when ripe. Granny Smiths should be firm, medium grain apples - with bold, sweet and sour bursts in every bite. Fujis should be aromatic and juicy with a spicy, crisp sweetness. Golden Delicious should be a crisp, clean apple with extremely mellow flavors, while Red Delicious should have a strong sweet presence and only a few notes of acidity.
McIntosh apples should be white and have a tender, crisp flesh that’s spicy, highly aromatic and full of juice. You should always consider why you are buying apples (cooking, baking or eating raw) because that makes a difference. Once you get home, you can keep your apples in the refrigerator for up to three days if you plan on eating them raw."
3. What’s the most popular kind of apple?
"During native apple season, there are two apples that stand out far and above any other varieties. First is the Honey Crisp because as the name says, it’s sweet like honey and crisp to the bite. Honey Crisps have a short season, only six to eight weeks.
The second most popular is the Macoun, which is a sweet, tart, and crispy apple from New England, but that also has a short window of availability. When Honey Crisp and Macoun are not available, people go for the super sweet and crunchy Gala apple followed by Granny Smith."
4. What’s the best apple to use for cooking?
"When making a pie, you can really use any apple you like, but a firmer apple, like Cortland, Golden Delicious or Granny Smith works really well. Those won’t break down like the softer varieties, such as McIntosh, which can get mushy.
You can even try a 50/50 blend of the Cortland and Granny Smith in your pie for added flavor. When making apple sauce, use Granny Smith or McIntosh. These apples feature bold flavors and lots of juice, making them perfect for sauce."
5.What are the best ways to use apples this harvest season?
"Apple cider donuts and apple pie are delicious but I’m always watching my waistline, so I was given a new recipe to try at home the other night. Chop up a few apples, put them in a roasting pan, then drizzle some Vermont maple syrup over them. Follow with a few shakes of ground cinnamon and put it in the oven for about an hour. My whole family loved it.
If you aren't watching your waistline, try this French-style apple tart."

Pastry cream:
2 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Tart:
1 large egg
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
2 medium Gala apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 cup apricot preserves
To prepare the pastry cream: In a mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the egg yolks and sugar to form ribbons. Mix in the flour and cornstarch. In a small saucepan, over medium heat, bring the milk to a boil. Remove 1/2 cup of the milk and gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Gradually whisk the egg mixture back into the hot milk. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, or until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Return the mixture to the mixing bowl and mix well. Stir in the vanilla. Pour into a large bowl. Cool slightly, then cover the surface completely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the custard for 1 hour or until cold. (Pastry cream may be prepared up to 1 day in advance.)
To prepare the tart: Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, beat the egg with 1 teaspoon water. Place the puff pastry on a lightly floured cutting board. Cut a 1-inch strip off of each side of the pastry. Using the egg wash, brush a 1-inch border around the edges of the center piece of puff pastry. Place the strips onto the brushed border, folding the corners over to form another layer. Brush the border with the egg wash. Spoon or pipe the pastry cream onto the center of the puff pastry. Place the apples over the cream and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. Remove from the oven and let cool on a rack for 15 minutes. In a small saucepan, heat the apricot preserves and 3 tablespoons water. Brush onto the apples. Serve warm or refrigerate to serve cold later.

Shopping Websites

For unique products or excellent customer service (or both!), these websites are favorites.

Best Home Goods Shopping Websites

allmodern.com
One-stop shopping for contemporary home goods in an easy-to-browse, simply designed site.

ballarddesigns.com
This sprawling site, with a vast inventory at reasonable prices, is a favorite resource of interior decorators.

brocadehome.com
From Restoration Hardware comes a site full of sexy, curvy, ultra-feminine furnishings.

circalighting.com
Indoor lights, outdoor lights, table lights, floor lights, ceiling lights―and shades―all with free shipping.

designerplumbing.com
A wide-ranging collection of tubs, sinks, vanities, and more to redecorate your bath. Fabulous prices―there's even a section of "blowout specials"―and top-notch customer service.

hableconstruction.com
This sister-owned textile company offers totes, pillows, and other high-quality goods in fun, colorful prints.

homeinfatuation.com
If you're lucky enough to have a patio and a yard, you'll find everything you need to furnish your outdoor space―furniture, umbrellas, grills―here.

laylagrayce.com
Home furnishings (plus clothing for women and children) from around the world, all with a romantic sensibility.

moderndose.com
Reasonably priced reproductions of modern furniture classics, with free shipping and a money-back guarantee.

2modern.com
As streamlined as the modern furniture it carries, this site features the work of eco-conscious designers.

thpcollections.com
Decorative accessories and furniture with a global viewpoint, from sources as equally far-flung.

ugallery.com
Original artwork at every price. A view-on-wall feature lets you try before you buy, so you have an idea of how a work of art will look in your home.

unicahome.com
An eclectic roundup of modern, vintage, and kitsch from big names like Knoll and Herman Miller.

velocityartanddesign.com
Simple, clean, and graphic designs―from artwork to wallpaper―at affordable prices.

wisteria.com
Bright and simply laid out, this site features new, antique, and artfully weathered imports from across the globe.

Glorious Fall

As I prepare for my favorite season, I find it brings me so much joy and contentment. I walk Bailey every morning and see the deer along the ravine and the foliage changing colors right before my eyes, see the once raging river turned into a babbling brook. I enjoy the sounds, smells and sights of fall. I find a spring in my step as I walk Bailey, (sometimes twice a day just to be close to the nature that makes me feel so happy)!
Today was a good example, after walking 3 miles, I stopped to let Bailey off her lead and let her play in the once raging river. She finds such peace and you can see her smile as she gallops off to run through the water, never showing signs of the water being too cold. She runs up and down the bank at a full speed and in this moment I can see she is trying to heal from the death of her buddy, Harley a few weeks ago. She is learning to be independent and rely on her senses and Mother Nature is assisting her. In this moment I watch her go from being such a nervous Nellie to a strong and sure lab as she was intended.
Death is never easy on anyone in a family. Least of all the pets. They have their own rhythm with life and seem to take things as they come.(?) I enjoy our "zoo",as we have dubbed them. They are a lot of work but am happy to know we rescued many of them out of some pretty bad situations. It is nice to see them growing healthy and happy as they progress in their individual recovery of the traumas and injustices they have endured in their short lives. It is a sence of accomplishment I feel each day as Remmington and Chipmunk climb up my step stool to beg for treats for the uptenth time that day, or when Bailey learns a concept with such ease. I am glad I have been blessed with these precious souls and have been able to give them such a better quality of life they never had.
As you consider your holiday list this year; I implore you to go to a shelter and donate some time, materials or even bring home a fuzzy lifetime friend. The joy they give to you and your family is irreplaceable in a store bought gift. IAMS Home For The Holidays is a wonderful gift to give to your family and a furry friend that might not be given a second chance if it was not for you.

It's been almost a month since I last wrote. I apologize for anyone who might be paying attention! Three deaths in 2 months has been a little tough to handle.
I've been busy canning and preserving the summers fruits and veggies and creating new recipes for my family to enjoy.  This year I made mixed berry syrup, maple syrup and red raspberry syrup along with: applesauce, apple butter, pear butter, salsa and various dried fruit and fruit leather. I love the fall and all the cooking that comes with it. I have many favorite recipes and hope you are willing to share yours with me too! Stay posted and I will include some holiday ideas and recipes!
Thanks for your support! And Happy Fall!

Stores Cracking Down On Extreme Couponers~Again!

For those of you who shelf clear, steal newspapers out of honor boxes, push whole product displays into your many shopping carts, and generally don't use any coupon ethics... this industry change that is currently underway is THANKS to you and your lack of basic decancy!
Ok, some of you may think that I am being too harsh but when the industry as a whole has to stop and AGAIN revist how couponers are shopping and how some are essentially cheating the "system" it begs the question: Are you too extreme? You have to look at how the TLC show is changing the face of couponing in such a hard economic times, when people are scrambling to save every cent they can. Some say that it is great: "allowing people to learn how to coupon and bringing coupon habits to the forefront as a means for people to learn to become savvy shoppers", and some are very upset at how a show has spun the industry into a full blown panic mode. I am among those who are very upset at some of the practices that people employ on this show and that the TLC show is exploiting bad couponers who are essentially ruining the industry for EVERYONE!
I teach, harp, praise on coupon ethics in my coupon classes. I know that by the time the classes are done everyone is well aware of what I believe with being ethical for couponing. (Honestly, it is just good basic human decancy if you really think about it.)The first thing I want all new couponers to be aware of is setting their goals, meaning what is it that you want to achieve by couponing, how many items does your family need/use, what is your shelf space, cooking habits and usage plan? I have always asked my classes to order their products from customer service if they are aware they will be using over 10 coupons for any one product, to only coupon for what you NEED and can USE. If you are couponing for charities as I do often, then have those in seperate transactions and of course talk to your store manager for clarity on their policy changes and don't rely on just the internet copy from your store's website.
There is little we all can do to stop the madding rush of the stores to tighten their coupon policies as they of course have to protect their bottom line. But if you can be ethical and work with your store and store manager they will be less likely to prohibt your use of coupons as they are now allowing managers to say "when" essentially.
Happy Savings!

Coupon Statistics

Coupon Statistics

General Facts about Coupons

Coupon clippers have taken over the checkout lines in record numbers...with record savings. But if you still think most coupon users have blue hair, you're way off. With mobile and internet coupons gaining even more popularity discounted prices are a hot hobby across all ages and incomes, especially folks in their 20s and 30s. If you've been hiding your frugal habits, it's time to let your lean lifestyle shine! Just how much of an influence do coupons have on the population at large? Check out the latest stats on coupon usage trends below.

1. 88.2 million consumers (47% of Internet users) plan on using online coupons in 2011
2. 92.5 million adult Internet users will use online coupons in 2012
3. 96.8 million adult Internet users will use online coupons in 2013
4. Every hour spent couponing in 2011 is worth an estimated $100
5. The average savings per coupon used was $1.44 in 2010
6. 74% of consumers search multiple coupon sources each week
7. 25% spend up to an hour shopping for the best online discount deals
8. 47% of respondents use more local deals and coupons than in 2010
9. Moms are roughly twice as likely to search for coupons online as other categories of women
10. 52% of coupon users spend more than 15 minutes per week searching for coupons
11. 25% of coupon users spend between 30 minutes and 60 minutes searching for coupons per week
12. $485 billion worth of coupons were distributed in 2010
13. 332 billion coupons were distributed in 2010, the most ever recorded in the U.S.
14. Consumers saved $3.7 billion using coupons in 2010
15. Distribution in 2010 exceeded 2009 by 6.8%, or 21 billion coupons
16. 87.7% of paper coupons were distributed in 2010 via newspaper inserts, for an increase of 19 billion coupons
17. Digital offers increased by 37% in 2010
18. The face value of coupons in 2010 increased 6.6%, to an average of $1.46 per coupon
19. 74% of coupons in 2010 required the purchase of one item and 26% the purchase of two or more items
20. The average coupon expired in 10.1 weeks in 2010, 10 days shorter than in 2009
21. Overall coupon redemption grew 3.1%, to 3.3 billion, in 2010
22. 78.3% of consumers reported using coupons regularly in 2010, up 14.7% from pre-recession levels
23. Consumer coupon use in 2010 added up to $3.7 billion in savings, an increase of $200 million over 2009

Redemption Growth for Different Coupon Types in 2009

• Internet - 263%
• Direct Mail - 69%
• Magazine Pop-up - 51%
• Instant Redeemable - 48%
• Electronic Checkout - 39%
• Free-standing Insert - 36%
• Digital Promotions - 31%
• Shelf Pad - 30%
• In Store Advertisement - 27%

Coupon Classes

For my fellow couponers who can't make it to the classes, I will be having them filmed and upload them online for you all to be able to also be a part of the saving nation! COMING SOON!